The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1887-10-27
THE FARMERS STATE 1NsT1-
TUTE.R e TN


must have been dispelled by the large
numbers who came from all parts of
the State last week, chiefly to attend
the Farmers, Institute. We met gen
tlemen from at least a dozen counties,
who told us that they "came expressly.
to be present at the Institute And
Notwithstanding the continuous rain,
day and night, and the slush and mud,
they were OF hand at each meeting
and evinced the deepest interest. All
were delighted with the proceedings,
although the programme was disar-
ranged by the difficulties growing out
of the unfavorable weather. We are
satisfied that hereafter the Farmers
State Institute is to become one of the
prominent and most interesting fea-
lures of the Fair. No session could
be held on the grounds.
On the night of the 9th a. large
crowd assembled in Commons Hall
and DR.. D. R. Parker, promptly at 80
minutes past 7 o'clock called the In
stitute to order, and in characteristic
speech introduced DR.. Bird, of Ran
dolph county, who read an able paper
on "Grass and Clover" discussingth
peculiar merits and characteristics Of
such species as are best adapted to
our climate and soils. His essay
evinced a familiarity with his subject,
which could have been acquired only
by hard study, wide research and
much experience. Lively after-talks
on this subject were made by John
Dorset, G.. Mcdonald, B. F. Hester,
A. McIver, DR.. r. H. Lewis, A. Graves,
J. J. White and others.
The Chairman then introduced Mr..
Jno. Robinson, Commissioner of Agri-
culture, who read a carefully prepared
paper on the great advantages of dis
cussion among farmers of those sub
jects in which they are directly. con-
cerned, and of the absolute necessity
of diversified farming in the South
and spoke hopefullyand encouragingly
of the future of agriculture in the
South. Suggested that the State
Farmers Institute be made a perma-
nent institution, and was authorized
to tender a portion of the Exposition
Building for that purpose.
Prof. F. P. Venable, of our State
University, was introduced, who read
a most interesting and valuable paper
on "The Chemistry of Wines" and
stated he and Prof. Phillips had
analysed a number of wines manufac-
tured in our State and would most
gladly analyze any native wines sent
them at Chapel Hill. He presented a
table showing the analysis of a num-
Der of native wines.
The Institute then adjourned to meet
again tomorrow.
COMMONS HALL, Oct. 20, 81.
DR.. D. Reid Parker opened the In
stitute promptly at $50 and presented
a paper on "Plowing," by D. M.
Payne, Of Randolph, which was kindly
read by that magnificent reader W. H.
Burkhead, of the Tobacco Plant. We
hope to present this philosophical and
practical paper to the readers of THE
PROGRESSIVE FARMER, for although
the oldest Of agricultural implements,
and although every negro in the South
thinks he is a superior ploughman, the
reading Of this paper will convince us
that this old and familiar implement
is not understood by one-tenth of the
men who follow it.
This was followed by DR.. D. W. G.
Benbow, of Greensboro, on "The
Profits of the Cow" who dived right
down into his subject and took his
audience with him, and kept it with
him until he finished.
DR.. R. H. Lewis, of Raleigh, was
next introduced, who gave a splendid
| talk on the new but most important